VTOL Flight Control System Redundancy via Segmented Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flight control systems for VTOL vehicles face challenges in maintaining reliable and safe control during subsystem failures, particularly due to the complexity and software dependency of redundant systems, which can lead to catastrophic results.
Innovation Solution
A flight control system with plural independent control subsystems, each contributing equally to control power, allowing continued operation even if one subsystem fails, without the need for alternative stand-by systems or voting between primary and backup computers, using adjustable directional vanes and variable pitch rotor/propeller blades to generate control forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional redundant flight control systems with primary and backup computers are used, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and software dependency increases leading to potential catastrophic failures
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into multiple independent control channels, each capable of providing complete control authority. Instead of having one primary computer and backup computers, the system segments control functions across multiple independent channels that can operate autonomously. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex voting logic and software-based failover mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Each control channel is designed with local quality - meaning each channel has its own independent sensors, computers, and actuators dedicated to that channel. This localization ensures that a failure in one channel does not affect other channels, providing inherent fault isolation without requiring complex system-wide redundancy management.
2Reliability
If backup subsystems are implemented to maintain 100% control power after failure, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and software dependency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adapts to failures through its modular architecture. When a failure occurs, the remaining functional channels automatically assume the control burden without requiring complex failover logic. The system transitions smoothly from full-power operation to degraded operation while maintaining safety, eliminating the need for pre-configured backup subsystems and complex switching mechanisms.
3Reliability
If dissimilar components are used in control subsystems, then reliability is improved through diversity, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments control functions into independent channels that can be manufactured and tested separately. This segmentation allows each channel to use optimized component sets tailored to its specific function, improving reliability through diversity while simplifying manufacturing through modular assembly. Each channel can be manufactured independently and then integrated into the complete system.
Data Source
AI summary
Flight control systems have plural control subsystems with redundancies organized so as to provide continued but degraded control power over critical aircraft flight operating parameters even if any one complete control subsystem catastrophically fails. One example described in detail for a VTOL craft includes four groups of controls, each group comprising inputs relating to six degrees of freedom of the vehicle, at least one control computer and a plurality of actuators; each group utilizing 25% of required flight control power for the vehicle.